Nikita Kucherov is the clear favorite for the Art Ross Trophy

[CN8]

Jordan Belfort

Ha yea there it is

 

[authentic]

Dude he is 21 points behind the leader for the Art Ross.

Maybe you meant Hart but even then it's unlikely.

70+ goals will not be very unlikely for Hart or Lindsay. Infact I will say if he does manage to score 70+ goals and McDavid/Kucherov/ MacKinnon stay at similar paces he will win both trophies.

 

[wetcoast]

70+ goals will not be very unlikely for Hart or Lindsay. Infact I will say if he does manage to score 70+ goals and McDavid/Kucherov/ MacKinnon stay at similar paces he will win both trophies.

I respectfully disagree.

The Hart is Mack's to lose AM already won a most goals not top 3 points Hart, Leaf fans need to get used to the idea.

 

[authentic]

I respectfully disagree.

The Hart is Mack's to lose AM already won a most goals not top 3 points Hart, Leaf fans need to get used to the idea.

We will see. You may be right.

 

[Fledgemyhedge]

it’s sad when your primary focus as a fan in the NHL is just to cheer against a certain player. Especially when said player keeps letting you down

 

[crowfish]

I respectfully disagree.

The Hart is Mack's to lose AM already won a most goals not top 3 points Hart, Leaf fans need to get used to the idea.

Why is the Hart Macks to lose when McDavid has outplayed him both offensively and defensively?

 

[TheGoldenJet]

McDavid winning the Ross and potting 100 assists would be a site to behold, he would sweep the awards if that was the case.

 

[wetcoast]

Why is the Hart Macks to lose when McDavid has outplayed him both offensively and defensively?

Look at the last voters poll that an actual partial list of voters took part in.

I posted it elsewhere but Mack had basically doubled his vote count above Kuch and they were neck to neck.

Sure AM has gone on a tear but like I stated he already ha his Richard Hart from the voters and there is a narrative that Mack is due.

I'm simply stating what the voters will most likely due and it's not like Mack's season isn't Hart worthy.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Are we sure about that? There is a guy with 49 goals in 53 games, 6 hit tricks and 7 points in his last 2 games

 

[Stephen]

I respectfully disagree.

The Hart is Mack's to lose AM already won a most goals not top 3 points Hart, Leaf fans need to get used to the idea.

Matthews has been heating up the past week, so if he continues on a pace, the Leafs go on a run for 70, the point differentials close and the media gets to work things will change. That's why they play the games.

 

[CokenoPepsi]

Like it or not the Toronto media likes to create narratives and it hard to overcome.

This year all the talk is on MacKinnon and Matthews just hasn't done enough... Lots of goals sure but it hasn't been all that consistent and the total point numbers are "low"

Also the fact that the team overall has been a bit of a disappointment and Nylander was getting all the hype at the start of the year doesn't help

 

[Stephen]

Are we sure about that? There is a guy with 49 goals in 53 games, 6 hit tricks and 7 points in his last 2 games

The Hart is going to be dictated by what happens on the ice, so if Matthews starts scoring a hat trick every week, gets to 70, closes the points gap and finishes with 120 points, and the Leafs go on a run that will be his best case for a Hart Trophy.

If Mackinnon and Kucherov continue to do what they do, they will be favorites for the Hart like they have been all season. If they cool down or hit a rough spot for any length of time it'll diminish their chances. If McDavid goes on a heater of all heaters it'll be his. There's no award rotation where you hand the trophy out at game 56.

 

[x Tame Impala]

We should just change to the thread title to something neutral like “Art Ross Thread” and end the pettiness. The three best forwards in the world are neck and neck for the Ross and it’ll probably come down to the wire. As a neutral fan I couldn’t dream up a more fun scenario to watch as the season unfolds.

 

[snag]

it’s sad when your primary focus as a fan in the NHL is just to cheer against a certain player. Especially when said player keeps letting you down

Must be why Leafs fan cheer for Rocket trophies....cause come playoffs....

 

[Spawn]

The Hart is going to be dictated by what happens on the ice, so if Matthews starts scoring a hat trick every week, gets to 70, closes the points gap and finishes with 120 points, and the Leafs go on a run that will be his best case for a Hart Trophy.

If Mackinnon and Kucherov continue to do what they do, they will be favorites for the Hart like they have been all season. If they cool down or hit a rough spot for any length of time it'll diminish their chances. If McDavid goes on a heater of all heaters it'll be his. There's no award rotation where you hand the trophy out at game 56.

I don't think McDavid has any chance at the Hart. He doesn't compete against the rest of the field. He competes against past iterations of himself. It doesn't matter if he wins the scoring race and is the best player in the world by the end of the season. Because he wont win the scoring race by 25+ points his season wont be deemed remarkable enough.

As for Matthews.. I mean I wouldn't be surprised given the Toronto media push, but 3 games ago his name wasn't even in the back of anyones mind as a potential Hart contender. Then back to back hatricks and its all "does 70+ goals lock up the Hart for Matthews?"

 

[Dust]

Probably the best Art Ross race we've had pretty much since McDavid entered the league.

 

[x Tame Impala]

I don't think McDavid has any chance at the Hart. He doesn't compete against the rest of the field. He competes against past iterations of himself. It doesn't matter if he wins the scoring race and is the best player in the world by the end of the season. Because he wont win the scoring race by 25+ points his season wont be deemed remarkable enough.

As for Matthews.. I mean I wouldn't be surprised given the Toronto media push, but 3 games ago his name wasn't even in the back of anyones mind as a potential Hart contender. Then back to back hatricks and its all "does 70+ goals lock up the Hart for Matthews?"

AM winning the Ross is almost impossible. Kuch is on pace for like 137 points right now and Matthews only has 26 assists. Even if he scores 70 goals there’s zero chance he’s getting 34+ assists before the season ends.

 

[Spawn]

AM winning the Ross is almost impossible. Kuch is on pace for like 137 points right now and Matthews only has 26 assists. Even if he scores 70 goals there’s zero chance he’s getting 34+ assists before the season ends.

Oh I agree, my apologies I was referring to the Hart as thats what the poster I was quoting was discussing.

 

[Calderon]

Has McDavid decided to win the Ross with assists alone? In his last six games he has 15 assists, no goals and under 2 SOG per game.

 

[Satire]

Has McDavid decided to win the Ross with assists alone? In his last six games he has 15 assists, no goals and under 2 SOG per game.

Oilers fans not sure. Last year he was shooting like crazy and this year he's suddenly trying to pass it into the net, lol.

He is playing like A+ on the defensive side of the game this year though.

 

[alko]

 

[Coffee]

Are we sure about that? There is a guy with 49 goals in 53 games, 6 hit tricks and 7 points in his last 2 games

And best two way player out of all of candidates

 

[Buck Naked]

And best two way player out of all of candidates

By reputation or actual on ice stats? Looks to me like Connor schools him in most percentages this year. They're 8 percentages apart in xGF% in McDavid's favor.

 

[Coffee]

By reputation or actual on ice stats? Looks to me like Connor schools him in most percentages this year. They're 8 percentages apart in xGF% in McDavid's favor.

Kind of just excluded McDavid just cause, but yeah fair enough.

 

[Stephen]

I don't think McDavid has any chance at the Hart. He doesn't compete against the rest of the field. He competes against past iterations of himself. It doesn't matter if he wins the scoring race and is the best player in the world by the end of the season. Because he wont win the scoring race by 25+ points his season wont be deemed remarkable enough.

As for Matthews.. I mean I wouldn't be surprised given the Toronto media push, but 3 games ago his name wasn't even in the back of anyones mind as a potential Hart contender. Then back to back hatricks and its all "does 70+ goals lock up the Hart for Matthews?"

Don’t think anything is a lock with 26 games to go. Anybody in that field could continue to do special things or cool down and their Hart candidacy can be weakened. Hitting the 70 goal pace the last few games means Matthews is back in the conversation.

And in terms of Toronto media, yeah maybe the hype campaign goes into overdrive. But considering the schadenfreude and naysaying from the general population, I think those things exist in tension and balance each other out.